Apparatus for selective verbatim coding and decoding



APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVE VERBATIM CODING AND 'DEGODING H. R. BARNETT Original Filed June 25. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 arch H, 1936.

arch 11, 1930. BARNETT 1,749,933

APPARATUS Eon SELECTIVE VERBATIM :GODING AND DECODING inal Filed June 25, 1925 2 Sheets Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 11, 1930' UNITED STATES HARRY B. BARNETT, 01' DENVER, COLORADO APPARATUS For. sELEcrrvE vmarmr conme AND nnconme Application filed June 25, 1825, Serial No. 39,577. Renewed July 80, 1929.

My invention relates to a new apparatus for selective verbatim coding and decoding or translating a given vocabulary for telegrams, cablegrams and radiograms.

And the objects of my invention are:

First: To provide a new apparatus for selection or formation and combination at will of letters, words, groups of words, phrases,

parts of phrases, or sentences, figures and characters, comprising-a given vocabulary, and the consequent formation and combination of coding words necessary for the transmission of same via telegraph, cable or radio, commonly known as telegrams, cablegrams and radiograms; the apparatus particularly affording brevity and secrecy in transmission; likewise the decoding ortranslation of same by the recipient by reversing the coding operation.

Second: To provide a new apparatus for coding and decoding telegrams, cablegrams and radiograms that is co-operatively combined with a mechanical apparatus provided selection of the coding and decoding letters and words so co-operatively arranged that telegrams, cablegrams and radiograms comprised of sentences may be coded from the letters of the alphabet on the said strips and may also be decoded or translated inireverse manner by the recipients of telegrams, cablegrams or radiograms, using the same system a and apparatus.

Third: To provide a new type and character oftelegram, cablegram and radiogramtransmitting words, letters, figures and characters, also tables and specifications dimensions, prices, percentages, distances, weights, measures, quantities, numerals and-other valuable information, arranged on rollers in a cabinet so arranged that the sender of telegrams, cablegramsor radiograms may select initial letters, words and phrases at will and in very much less time than by the coding and decoding systems now in use.

Fourth: To provide a telegram, cablegram and radiogram coding and decoding apparatus; comprising stri sof any suitable mate- 0 rial having columns-o words and phrases and indicating code letters for said words and hrases printed or otherwise placed on them in connection with mechanism for shifting said strips in the selection of combinations of one or more letters, syllables, words, groups of words, figures, characters or tables, phrase or part of a phrase, one or more sentences, or part of a sentence with one or more letters, syllables, words, groups of words, figures, characters, or tables, phrase or part of a phrase, one or more sentences, or part of a sentence as may be necessary for the proper expression of thought, the system being used either with or withput the 5 strip shifting mechanism.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the accompanying specification inwhich: v

Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a cabinet provided with a strip having five columns of words or phrases printed thereon, said strips being connected at its ends to rollers so as to be moved in either direction.

Fig. 2, is a transverse sectional view through the cabinet on the line 22 of Fig. 3, showing the rollers to which the ends of the code strip are attached, and the gearing by which the rollers are turned simultaneous- I ly and in the same direction.

Fig. 3, is a plan view of one end portion of the cabinet showing the rollers and their operating gears.

Fig. 4, is a plan view illustrating a modified form of the coding apparatus, in which three independent code strips are employed, which are attached to three pairs of independently operated rollers.

Fig. 5, is an end view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6, in a transverse sectional iew thereof on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4. I

Fig. 7, is a transverse sectional view through one of the rollers, showing the man'- ner of connectingvone end of the code strip thereto. 1

Fig. 8, is a sectional view through a portion of the cover of the cabinet, showing a glass panel over the opening through which the code phrases are displayed.

Fig. 9, is a perspective view of one end portion of the plate which supports the codestrip relatively to the opening in the cover.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings: The letter A indicates a cabinet which may be of any required dimensions; and which comprises an oblong housing, having a removable cover 2. The front side 3 of the cabinet is preferably of less hei ht than the rear side, and the ends of the cabinet are the same height as the rear side thereof for a short distance from the said rear side andthen incline downward to the front side as shown. The 'cover 2, is bent longitudinally to conform to the outline of the upper edges of the said ends, and the front and end edges of said cover are bent down to form a lip 4,

which overlies the edges of the front side and the ends of the housing. The rear edge of the cover is slid beneath a longitudinal rod 5 which is secured to the upper edge of the rear side of the housing and a spring latch 6 is secured to the under side of the cover adjacentits front edge, and is adapted to engage the upper edge 7 of the front side of the housing, which is bent over at an angle for that purpose, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the cover can be quickly attached to the housing, or removed therefrom when necessary.

A longitudinal slot or sight opening 8, is formed in the inclined portion of the cover through which the words, phrases, code letters and numbers on the code strip are seen, and in selecting the required words and phrases to make up a given message, the code strip is shifted to bring the required word or phrase to stand just above the lower edge of the opening, thus shutting out all words or phrases below the line in which the desired word or phrase occurs and thereby eliminating the possibility of selecting the wrong word or phrase.

A longitudinal plate 9, of slightly greater width than the opening 8, is positioned below the said opening, and separated from the cover by a slight space. The longitudinal ed eportions of this plate are bent over at rig t angles, as shown at 9A in Figures 2 and 9 to give rigidity to the plate, and the ends of the plate extend slightly beyond its bent side edge, as shown at 9B, and these extending portions rest in recesses 9D which are formed in the upper edges of the ends of the housing.

Rollers 10 and 11 are mounted in the housing and these rollers have metal disks 12 secured upon their ends in any suitable man the right hand ends of the rollers are provided with pinions 1 1 which mesh with a relatively large gear wheel 15 which is looselymounted on a rod 16 which is secured at its ends to the ends of the housing. A small axial pinion 17 is secured to the gear 15 and a driving gear 18 of about twice the diameter of the pinion 1T, meshes with the said pinion 17 and is secured upon a short stem 18B, which is mounted in a hub on the adjacent end of the housing, and a knob 19 is secured upon'the outer end of the stem The gear 15 turns both of the pinions 1% in the same direction, and one rotation of the driving gear 18 causes two rotations of the gear 15 and about four rotations of the rollers, whereby the code strip is rapidly unwound from one roller and wound upon the other roller. Although the angular velocities of the rollers 10 and 11 will vary as the strip passes from one roller to the other, I have found that no difliculties are encountered from this change in angular velocities when the strips are comparatively short, and with longer strips any of the known or appropriate over-run clutches (not shown) may be included in the driving mechanism. The rollers 10 and 11 are provided with longitudinal grooves 20, and one end of the code strip is placed in one of the grooves and the other end thereof placed in the other groove, and square metal rods 21, are forced into the grooves and thus clam the ends of the strip to the rollers, as will e understood by reference to Fig. 7

In Figures 1 and 2, have shown a movable pointer 22 for locating the columns of code letters which indicate the lines of words or phrases. The pointer is secured to a slide 23 having beveled edges, and which is slidably mounted in a groove 24, formed in a metal strip 25, which is secured to the-cover 2. The marginal edges of the groove 24 are beveled to correspond to the beveled edges of the slide 23, the groove being wider at the bottom than at the top, so that when the slide 23 is placed therein, it cannot'become disconnected from the groove.

The character of code strip used in connection with the cabinet above described'will be hereinafter particularly described, and the strip passes from one roller, over the plate 9 to the other roller, the plate 9 supporting the exposed portion of the strip in a plane close to the under side of the cover and with relation to the sight opening 8, so that the matter on the strip may be readily seen throughthe sight opening, as the strip is shifted back and forth in making the phrase selections.

If desired, the sight opening 8 may be and preferably is covered with a glass panel 8B which is secured in parallel cleats 80 as shown in Fig. 8.

In Figures 4, 5 and 6, I show a cabinet which is used in connection with a coding and decoding system employing three code strips, and therefore this cabinet is provided with three pairs of rollers and three "independent gear mechanism for operating the three pairs of rollers. The gearing for each pen of outer rollers is identical with the earing above described, excepting that the riving gear 18, on the righthand end of the cabinet, is shifted to the left of the position shown in Fig. 2, in order to permit two knobs to be used on this end of the cabinet and the corresponding gear 18 on the left hand end of the cabinet is placed in line with the gear 18 on the right hand end, for the sake of symmetry.

The cabinet is divided by two partltions 26 and 27 into three compartments of equal size. The left hand pair of rollers 28 and 29 are mounted in the left end of the cabinet and in the adjacent partition 26; the right hand pair of rollers 32 and 33 are mounted in the right hand end of the cabinet and in the partition 27, and the middle pair of rollers 30 and 31, is mounted in the partitionsf26 and 27 The pinions 14 on the middle rollers and the gear wheel 15 which meshes with them,

are identical with the corresponding gears and pinions on the rollers 10 and 11 of Fig. 3, but instead of the pinion 17, I employ a inion 17A of twice the diameter of the pinion 17 and instead of the driving gear 18, I employ a gear 18A of twice the diameter of the pinion 17A, the ratio between the wheels 17A and 18A being the same as between thewheels 17 and 18. The reason for employing the larger wheels 17A and 18A in connecas shown tion with the middle pair rollers, is to enable the wheel 18A to. be operated from the right hand end of the cabinet, by a rod on shaft 34 which must be positioned outslde the path of the'large gear 15, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 6. The rod34 to which the said glear wheel 18A is r gidly secured, is mounte at its inner ends 1n the partition 26, and passes loosely through the partition 27, and t rough the right hand end of the cabinet and upon its outer, end 1s secured an operating knob 35 the driving gear 18 of the right hand pairof rollers being 0perated by a knob 36, and the driving gear 18 of the left hand pair of rollers being operated by aknob 37.

The cabinet'or housing is provlded with a cover 38, similar to the cover 2 1n Flgures 1 and 2, but this cover .is rovided with three slots or si ht openings 8 one for each sheet, Ixy dotted lines in Flg. 4.

on, together with their designating numbersand code letters, as will now be explained. The present s stem provides for the selective formation an combination ofwords, groups of words and phrases one with another in practically unlimited number as may be necessary for the desired expression'of a given phraseology, and thus eliminates the necessity of being1 limited in the expression of thought'to t e stereotyped words, phrases and sentences shown in'connection with a topic or caption word, as used in the ordinary telegra hic code books in present use, and permits 0 verbatim coding, as more fully described in another para ra h.

x This system contemplates tie orming of a designated phrase or sentence, by beginning with the initial word of each hrase, part of a phrase or sentence, instead 0 reference to the topic or caption word, and in order to accomplish this, the system operates as follows:

Each code strip or sheet B-CD has displayed thereon in alphabetical order, commencing at the top thereof, vocabulary words, phrases, or parts of phrases, letters, numerals, characters, or tables, et cetera, to the extreme left of which appear in numerical order, numbers commencing with 100, one number being assigned to each successive line, and directly in line with the designated vocabulary words, phrases, et cetera. The result of this in each instance, is the indication of one line, said numerals being a necessary part of the system as a whole, though not necessary for the direct coding or decod- ,ing according to the particular system herein described.

The system of coding contemplates the employment of the letters comprising the alphabet, in groups of two, three, four or five letters, arranged in proper alphabetical sequence peculiar to this system, which may be connected or combined with a similar alphabetical group or groups, for the convenient and grammatical joining of two or more, words, phrases, partsof phrases, sentences or parts of sentences, such grou letters, whether connected or not, comprising the code word or Words necessary for the proper communication of thought by telegram, cable or radio, as embraced in the present practice of telegraphic, cable and radio correspondence. In the system herein described, however, I employ groups of three-letter combinations, as shown in Fig. 4.

Adjacent to the left hand-edge of code strip B, as stated above, is printed ,a column of numbers running from to approximately 5,380 which number represents the number of three-letter combinations obtainable by alphabetical combinations of the letters A B-C-DE--F-+G, in three-letter groups,

for example: AAA-AABAAG and on to AAZ, then ABA, ABE, ABC and on to ABZ, followed by ACA, ACB, ACC, etcetera,until AZZ is reached, then the use of the combinations made possible by the initial letters B- CDE-FG.

Adjoining the column of numbers on the code strip B is printed a column of three-' letter groups of code combinations or arti ficial words of three letters commencing with AAA and continuing in the alphabetical sequence above mentioned, until the letter combination GZZ is reached, each letter group being in line with one of the above numbers.

Adjoining the column of code letter combinations, is a column of vocabulary words or phrases, et cetera, the initial words being arranged in alphabetical sequence and comprising verbs, adverbs, prepositions, pronouns, et cetera. The intention being to use code strip B principally for phrase combinations, this column begins with the word About, which word is used as the initial word of a great many phrases in ordinary communication, such as About a, About all, About any, About as, About as soon as, et cetera. The system contemplates the use of as many grammatical combinations with the initial word About as are expressed in the communication of thought. The next word in alphabetical sequence is Above-to which is joined in similar phrase sequence, for example: Above a, Above all, Above any, et cetera; followed by the initial word After with various combinations, likewise Again, then All, Am, An, And, Are, As, At and so on throughout the alphabet.

Code strips C and D are primarily used for individual words of the vocabulary used in' common parlance in alphabetical order, such as Abandon-s, Abandoning; Abide s. Abided, Abiding, Ability, Able, Ably, Abolish, et cetera, interspeised,however,with phrases for the proper operation of the system such as Able to, Able to be, Able to do, et cetera and in like manner to the above description of code strip B,'these strips C and D are provided with a column of numerals commencing with 100 and running up to approximately 5,380, with a column of codeletter groups beginning, for example with the initial letters HIJKLMNO P-Q, on code strip C and R-ST-U VW-XY--Z on code strip D and running through approximately as many threeletter combinations and in the same sequence, as described in corresponding code strip B, each code word being in line with one of the numerals on the left and the vocabulary word or phase on the right side of same.

The operation of coding a question or statement in connection with the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, is accomplished in the following manner: say for example, it is desired to code the statement 4 If you are not in position to do anything 'The person in charge first turns the left hand knob 37 to move the code strip B either forward or backward, as the case may be, until the group of words or phrases beginning with If is seen through the sight opening 8A in the cover, and the particular phrase If you are not of this group is selected, and positioned directly above the lower edge of the sight opening, which enables it to be easily read, as all the matter below that particular line is shut out by the cover. The code-letter combination designating this phrase is AFP. The knob 35 is then turned to move the middle code strip C until the group of words or phrases beginning with In is seen through the middle sight opening, and the phrase In position is selected, and brought to stand directly above the lower edge of the said sight opening, and in line with the selected phrase on code strip B. The codeletter combination designating this phrase is HER. The knob 36, is then turned to move the right hand code strip D until the group of words or phrases beginning with To is seen through the right hand sight opening, and the phrase To do anythin is selected and brought to stand directly a ove the lower edge of the said sight opening, and in line with the.other selected phrases. The code-letter combination designating this phrase is RFT the entire line of selected vcode-letter combinations and phrases will then read as follows:

AFP-If you are not HERIn position RFT-To do anything and the combination artificial code word ready for transmission will be AFPHERRFT.

It will thus be seen that with the use of only nine code letters, three different phrases are combined to make up the desired statement, and with the contemplated vocabulary, an almost endless number of words or phrase combinations is possible, thereby aflording ample material for the verbatim expression of practically any desired statement, question, report, instructions, information, et cetera, such as would be used in communications requiring code transmission. Attew tion is here called to the fact that reference to the ordinary codes in book form will show that only two phrases may be connected or combined by the employment of two fiveletter code words or ten letters in combination.

In making up a message any desired word or phrase may be selected from any one column and combined with a word or phrase in any other column or columns, or the matter necessary may all be found in one column it being understood that the selected words.

. and phrases do not necessarily occur in consecutive order with respect to the several columns.

With the above arrangement this system provides for practically verbatim coding, and special attention is called to the elasticity afi'orded in the use of the vocabulary, wherein it is possible to use any word or phrase at the beginning of a phrase or sentence, in the body of same or at the end, for-example:

Containing 10 Acres MORE OR LESS It is MORE OR LESS a matter- MORE OR LESS if this is We are not in ositlnn AT THIS TIME AT THIS T1 of the year I cannot come AT THIS TIME on account of It will be noted from the above that the system obviates the necessity of the sender of a code being obliged to make extensive changes in the phraseology of his original text in order to conform to the ordinary phrases and words in book codes, but on the other hand, as stated above, the same may be selected verbatim to meet his requirements.

In decoding, the operation is in reverse order to the operation of coding. For example, when a message in the form of a group of code letters of the three Sheet system is received, the letters are taken up successively in groups of three letters each; the first group is found by turning the strip until that group appears through the sight opening, and the word or phrase indicated by the code letters is written down. Then the next group or groups of code letters are found in the same manner. andthe words or phrase indicated by thesecode letters are set down in order and the words and phrases thus found will constitute the translation of the message.

The line numerals above referred to as appearing on each code strip, aside from serving as line designation also permit this i Y tern to be used as a cipher code, wherein ures are used in combination instead of letters, attention is also called to the fact that this system contemplates in cases where an absolutely private, confidential and secret code is desired for communication, that the code strips be printed in formas above described but without showing the three-letter code combinations, in which event a private key may be prepared by using the threeletter code combinations in conjunction with the line numerals, thus the code strips containing the vocabulary and phrases are ren- .dered meaningless and unintelligible to the u on casual observer, in the same manner as though it were a speller or dictionary, thereby providing safe, certain and ample means for absolutely secret communicatlon.

In the make-up of the code strips BC.-D,

. a great many words and phrasesare employed, also figures of s eech et cetera, which used singly or in com ination wlth two ormorephrases, are designed to cover the prise vast requirements of commercial, social and private communications, in fact wherever a gree of phrase combination, yet it is also antici ated that there may not only be added to t is system of code vocabulary, a vocabulary of technical terms and phrases, but also the s ecial terms and technical matter comof words and phrases germain to a particular line of business or industry, thereby combinin in this system a means of unlimited possi ilities so far as communication by telegraph, cable or radio is concerned.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, a single 'code sheet or strip is used for displaying the numbers, code letters and vocabulary and therefore the housing is provided with but a single pair of rollers, to. which the respective ends of the said sheet are-secured in the manner previously described.

The code sheet or stri is divided into five columns of words and p rases which constitute a vocabulary and which are arranged in alphabetical groups, as in the case of the three strip system, and adjoinin each column of words and phrases on the le side is a column of single code letters, the letters of each column being indiscriminatel arranged when read from top to bottom ut the'letters of the several columns are alphabetically arranged when read from left to right.

Before and adjoining the first column of single code letters, is acolumn of double code letters which are arranged in groups, such as a group of thecombination AA followed by a rou of the combination AB, and so on and a j oimng the column of double letters is a column of numbers beginning with 100 and continuing in regular order to the last letter combination in the adjoining column; thus each horizontal line of words and phrases from the vocabulary is designated by a number.

By arranging the double code letter combinations in groups as above described, the same double letter combination would indicate all the words or word and phrase combinations used in that group in the first column, but the single code letter would be difierent for each line in the group. V

The words and phrases constituting the vocabulary, are arranged in alphabetical groups in the several columns; all the phrases of each group beginning with the same initial word, as in the case of the three sheet phrases, as would meet the requirements contemplated in this system.

In coding a sentence, or statement or question in connection with the single-strip systom, the operation is as follows: For exam: ple, in order to code the question Do you favor acceptance, the knob 19 is turned to.

The code letter immediately preceding these words is V and the double letter combination in line with these words is AB. The knob is again turned to shift the strip until the group of words or phrases beginning with the letter F is found th1s letter occurring in the fifth column, and the Word Favor is selected.

The code word immediately preceding this word is E and the double letter combination in line with this word is AA. The next word Acceptance will be found in the fourthcolumn; the code letter immediately rec-edingthe same is K and the double etter combination in line therewith is AA.

Thus the question Do you favor acceptance, is coded as follows; ABV-Do you AAE-Favor'ABKAcceptance. It will be noted that the above example, all of the words or phrases making up the question are visible at one time and this particular question was chosen in order that the manner of selecting the various words or phrases making up the question, might be seen at a glance. In cases where the code strip must be shifted back and forth in order to select the words or phrases necessary to make up a given message, the pointer 22 may be moved to indicate the code letter for each selected word or phrase, thereby to avoid confusion or mistake, andnote is made of each word or phrase and its indicating code letter.

The vocabulary also contemplates the use of figures, words, phrases and characters for expressing the various money systems, tables of weights and measures, numerals, specifications, fractions, decimals, time, dates, companies and other miscellaneous matter together with the necessary code letters, for

- example:

9124 Tons 83 POUNDS 7 OUNCES in the manner hcreinbclore described, the columns of miscellaneous matter following immediately after the columns of words and phrases making up the general vocabulary. In coding this miscellaneous matter, in connection with the three strip system it will be seen that by shifting the strips, figures and numbers can be combined to form any larger number; also that combinations of numbers and words or phrases can be made for the expression of any information contem lated in the vocabulary.

aving described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. Apparatus for coding and decoding comprising a lurality of parallel and longitudinally shit table code strips, each of said code strips having a plurality of transversely disposed lines of words and phrases arranged thereon in alphabetical groups and code designations proceeding each line.

2. In a coding apparatus of the character described, a plurality of parallel and independently shiftable code strips having a plurality of lines of words and phrases thereon arranged in alphabeticalgroups, and a codeletter combination preceding each line the letters in each combination corresponding in number to the number of code strips.

3. In a coding apparatus of the character described, aplurality of'parallel and independently shi'ftable code strips each having a plurality of lines of words and phrases thereon arranged in alphabetical groups and a code letter combination preceding each line of each group, the code letter combinations on each strip being arranged in alphabetical sequence when taken in successive order and the number of letters in each combination corresponding to the number of strips.

4. In a coding apparatus of the character described, a plurality of parallel and independently shiftable code strips each having a plurality of lines of words and phrases thereon arranged in alphabetical groups, the phrases of each group having a common initial word, and code letters preceding each 5. In a coding apparatus of the character described, a plurality of parallel and independently shiftable code strips each having a plurality of lines of words and phrases thereon arranged in alphabetical groups, the phrases of each group having a common initial word, code letters preceding each line, and a number preceding each combination of code letters.

6. In a coding and decoding apparatus, a plurality of vertically arranged and vertically shiftable code strips, each of said code strips having arranged in horizontal lines thereon significant descriptive matter and code designations preceding the same, the descriptive matteron the several strips being 1,749,,ess

of such respective natures that a, complete message may be formed by placing hues of descriptive matter on the several strips in horizontal alinement.

7. Ina coding apparatus of the character described, the combination with pairs of vrollers; of code strips each of which is secured at its ends to a pair of said rollers, each of said strips having lines of words and phrases thereon arranged in alphabetical groups and in column formation, and code letters preceding each line which are arranged in alphabetical sequence when read downward from the top of the strip and separate mechanism for turning the rollers of each pair simultaneously and in the same direction, to bring a required line on any strip into view and to position the individual lines on the same horizontal line.

8. In a coding apparatus of the character described, the combination with independent code strips each having a plurality of lines of words and phrases thereon and code letters preceding each line; of a housing, independent pairs of rollers in said housing, each of said strips being secured at its ends to a pair of said rollers; a cover for said housing having sight openings therein, and independent mechanisms for turning the rollers of each pair simultaneously and in the same direction to bring a desired line on any strip into view.

9. In a coding'apparatus of the character described, the combination with independent code strips, each having a plurality of lines of words and phrases thereon arranged in aliphabetical groups, and code letters preceding each line on each strip, of a housing, independent pairs of rollers in said housing, each of said strips being secured at its ends to a pair of said rollers, independent mechanism for turning the rollers of each pair simultaneously and in the same direction thereby to position required phrases on the several sheets on the same horizontal line, and

a removable cover for said housing having sight openings therein.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HARRY R. BARNETT. 

